4
Post
5k
Followers
4
Following
TESTIMONIO
A testimonio typically involves a first-person account of real-life experiences, often told by individuals from marginalized or oppressed communities. The goal of testimonio works is to give voice to those who are often silenced, using their personal stories to highlight broader societal injustices.
When will justice prevail?
by Kate Ashley Dimaandal“I have a lot of favorite places to go when I want to break free from everything. One of which is the cemetery, this place is where people once became a family member I laughed with. However, death is really inevitable but you know what hurts the most? It is when they die forcefully and are killed as planned.My grandfather is a sociable and friendly person living in Batangas. He loves helping and donating to other marginalized sectors who are in need. Also, he was part of the Tau Gamma Fraternity which he also treated like a second family. It was mid-september 2020 when we heard that he was murdered. He was found dead on the street because he visited his girlfriend, murdered by his ex-best friend due to jealousy and unresolved issues. He was gunned down and shot three times at the back. After the investigation, the case went to the court but later on got dismissed because the opponent is an ex-captain and has lots of connections.This story of my grandfather is a perfect example of murder and social injustice. The prevalence of murder is bothering us nowadays as we can see on the news due to poverty, jealousy, and anger. Moreover, it is becoming more evil due to the people who still choose to be quiet and apprentice to these wrongdoers. I know that it is already impossible to stop the killings but are we really just going to be quiet with it?I believe that the possible solution for me murder is thorough investigation of the case and the parties that are involved. Moreover, on behalf of the victim, not throwing our conscience is the least we can do when we encounter this issue. There are already a lot of people who were killed, even the known figures, just like the unsolved issue of Pepsi Paloma.Bringing up the case again with concrete and factual evidence and raising it to the impartial people can possibly lead to a better outcome.
Titinding at Iibig; Only for the Filipinos
by Kristen Raya"Ang Pilipinas ay para sa mga Pilipino." The Philippines is for Filipinos, and Filipinos alone. Yet, why does this principle seem to be fading? Why are the voices of the needy silenced and ignored? Why are the privileged given more power, even when they don't deserve it?I live in a country where basic necessities are treated as luxuries. For some, eating three meals a day is a privilege. A decent home is an unreachable dream. Access to proper education remains out of reach for many. You might ask, "What about the help from the government?" Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the effort, but it's never enough. The aid we receive is only a fraction of what the media portrays. In reality, it’s barely a sliver... the rest goes into their pockets.Though some may find this issue tiresome, raised time and time again, we will not stop shouting. We will continue until we receive the justice, equality, and dignity we deserve in this country. In the upcoming election, may we choose a leader who not only loves the Philippines but loves the Filipino people. Let us elect leaders who genuinely care and are willing to create lasting change; change that reduces inequality, poverty, and oppression.We are in desperate need of help. Who else will listen to our voices? Who will stand with those of us who face this struggle every day? May those in power hear the cries of the oppressed and help us get what we need. May this country finally feel like it's ours too; not just for those in power. After all, the Philippines exists for the Filipinos, and the Filipinos only.
The Cut that Bleeds, will Soon be Healed
by Tiffany Ambher Sibal“It is okay to get raped, just not killed,” is a sentence that kept ringing in my head, a sentence that I had heard from someone close to me, my mom’s mom–my grandmother: someone whom I thought would understand the situation I had faced, yet decided to turn the other way. Voices of the many victims of sexual assault are left unheard of and gain no promises of help in hopes to just be heard of.Sexual abuse and harassment has been quite normalized in the Philippines as anywhere you go, there is bound to be a voice in the distance who will say such disgusting and sexist comments to a woman–whether it be a woman in her 40’s or a teen in her school uniform strolling by. It goes even further when a minor is taken advantage of, gets pregnant, yet is still the one who is at “fault” as she was “asking for it.” Even those in an actual relationship may experience sexual abuse from their partner; but of course, everyone turns a blind eye. I, myself, had experienced a form of sexual harassment from someone who I thought I could trust. He had confessed to me, saying that he had a crush on me and, mind you, HE HAD A WIFE AND KID. However, his actions were dismissed and were thought to be a minor inconvenience. Yet, why is that? Why is it that whenever someone experiences some sort of sexual abuse or harassment, everyone ignores it and makes it seem like it is not that “big of a deal,” when in fact, it is? First off, it is NOT the victim’s fault, he or she did not ask for it. We should not focus on what the victim was wearing, but instead focus on the bigger picture—that they were harassed. Anyone can be harassed, no matter what they wear, whether it be a wedding dress or sweat pants (based on what women around the globe had experienced). And yet, even if they try their nest to speak up, it was as if the world was against them, merely believing that the victims were “tempting” the person actually responsible, the person who had just harassed them, who abused them, and forever left a huge scar in their life that may never heal.Some who had sexually assaulted others were even proud of what they had just accomplished, showing the disgusting nature of humanity. Some even fetisize and fantisize about raping someone, to make someone look and feel vulnerable, which of course, is NOT OKAY. But for some reason, many do not care about these sorts of thoughts and actions that are targeted towards those around them, unless it has been done to them or to someone close to them. I truly do not understand the logic of those who think that way, who think that ‘Ignorance is the best solution,’ and would rather not care about those hurting around them. For me, both the abuse/assaulter, as well as the public-eye or the people surrounding the victim are at fault, not the victim in any way possible. Why? Because one, the victim was the one who was taken advantage of and second, no one even dared to listen to them, batting only an eye at them—no help given, not even their voice.But now, for once, we must take the stand. We must give our voices to those in need of it and empower them by letting others hear and listen to their side of the coin: their story. No one must face whatever traumatic experience it is, alone, as it can be, and is, very heavy and draining, like the world was turned upside down. By empowering those who are incapable of doing so alone, slowly, we may be able to make the world, somewhat, a better place and punish those who should be punished as a consequence of their scarring action, knowing that death itself, is unforgiving—a chance for those who were truly scarred, to heal once more.
Alone in the darkness
by Benedic LopezWhen COVID-19 started, many people lost their jobs, leading to an increase in depression and suicide. I was one of those who fell into the darkness called "depression."Like any other student, I was happy and energetic when it came to school activities, hanging out with friends, and playing games. But everything changed when the pandemic and quarantine began. I spent almost every day in my room, staring at my screen for what felt like an eternity. My daily routine became tiresome, waking up, taking a bath, eating, and then looking at my screen for almost eight hours. Living like this drained me, leading to boredom and depression. I lost my appetite, lost interest in my studies, and lost interest in everything. I searched online about the symptoms I was experiencing and realized that I needed to change my lazy routine to regain my energy. I started spending more time with my family and limited my gadget use because I realized excessive screen time was one of the major reasons for the increasing cases of depression and suicide.With the help of God and the support of my loved ones, I managed to escape the darkness called "depression." By limiting your time on gadgets and other entertainment devices, you too can overcome it. Spending time with loved ones and exploring the beauty of the world is important. Don’t lock yourself in a dark cage, we only have one life, so use it wisely.